Russia marks national unity Day
The holiday is associated with the end of the time of Troubles and symbolizes unity of the people and its ability to unite during difficult times.
MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. Russia on Saturday celebrated the Day of national unity — one of the youngest public holidays. It is celebrated since 2005 in memory of the events of 1612, when the militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish invaders.
Historically, the holiday is associated with the end of the time of Troubles in Russia in the XVII century and symbolizes the unity of the people and its ability to unite during difficult periods.
In different cities of Russia on this day will be festive rallies and demonstrations, concerts, historical re-enactments and theatrical performances. One of the Central events will be a festive meeting-a concert “Russia United” in the capital’s sports complex “Luzhniki”, where will perform well-known artists, public figures and representatives of civil society.
Not coincidentally, the organizer of this already traditional of the action serves the Public chamber of the Russian Federation — one of the most respected representative bodies of modern Russia, which unites the activists who protect the rights of various professions, nationalities, and religions.
The program of the President
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, during the solemn reception in the Kremlin, will be awarded the prize of the head of state for his contribution to strengthening unity of the Russian nation. The award was established by the decree of the RF President in 2016 and is awarded for activities aimed at the consolidation of the multinational people of Russia and harmonization of interethnic relations, reminded in a press-service of the Kremlin.
Putin also traditionally awarded the order of Friendship of foreign citizens for special merits in strengthening peace, friendship and mutual understanding between peoples, the preservation and popularization of Russian language and culture abroad.
On the same day, the President will lay flowers to the monument to Minin and Pozharsky on red Square. Then the head of state will visit the exhibition “Russia looking into the future” in the Central Arena, where the 15 thematic halls display the projects of the future, the development of which are engaged in specialized ministries and departments, as well as major Russian companies, noted in the Kremlin.
Forget quarrels and differences
The chairmen of the Federation Council and the state Duma Valentina Matvienko, Vyacheslav Volodin emphasize the importance of the idea of unity which embodies the present occasion.
“November 4 is the feast of the unity of the whole people,” — said TASS Matviyenko. “Forgetting of the feuds and differences, our ancestors banded together to achieve a common goal, — said the politician. Is it today we have one — a strong, prosperous Russia in which everyone has the right to a decent life”.
On this day Russians remember with gratitude the experience of ancestors, which gave “a wonderful, inspiring example,” the speaker continued. “I believe that today we have achieved the consolidation of the people, the representatives of different strata of society,” she said. “Together, we are working on the development of the country, to defend its position in the international arena, conduct an independent foreign policy,” Matviyenko confirmed.
Chairman of the state Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has noted that for centuries in the multinational Russian state were formed and the traditions of harmony and cohesion, shared responsibility for the fate of the Fatherland, mutual respect of people with different cultures and faiths. “Today, these values are transmitted from generation to generation, are the strong foundations of our society, the key to prosperity and further successful development of Russia”, — said in his congratulation on Day of national unity.